The idea for this picture book began with a single illustration: a sleepy hedgehog mom walking through the burrow wrapped in a plush blanket, while two tiny hedgehog siblings followed closely behind, hidden beneath the trailing folds of the fabric.
From there, the story began to unfold rapidly in my mind. I imagined a secret meeting by the window after their mother returned to bed, and that moment became the starting point for a classic bedtime story for children who are afraid of the dark.
The story follows Zirka (Ukrainian for “star”) and her older brother as they venture out to discover the many kinds of light that can be found in the darkness. At first, Zirka is hesitant and carries a magical mirror, hoping to gather all these lights and use them as protection whenever the dark feels frightening. But as their nighttime adventure continues, she begins to realize that the night is not only safe, but full of wonders and unexpected beauty. Little by little, Zirka starts to question whether she needs the mirror at all. In the end, after a certain magical encounter, she discovers that she already carries enough light within herself to feel safe in the dark.
This book is an ongoing personal project that I plan to complete by autumn. Through it, I hope to create a comforting story that helps children approach darkness without fear, and rather with curiosity.
